Cafe 70

The BBQ season is almost here. Get the grills fired up!!!

50 million people in the U.S.—one in four children—don’t know where their next meal is coming from, despite our having the means to provide nutritious, affordable food for all Americans.

While Jewish delis closing may not seem like a huge food industry trend, those who grew up in a culture where the institutions were a staple may realize what we stand to lose in urban neighborhoods as diners are distracted by flashier, less traditional options — leaving it so storied establishments are dying off with little fanfare.

Cafe 70 has been on hiatus but that hasn’t stopped me from keeping up with my love of cooking, shopping and most importing eating.

I usually leave all that’s FUNKY in food up to Cafe 70 and Sista ToFunky, but I just had to share, as I know she wants to get down with this!

After President Obama is sworn in and delivers his Inaugural Address, he will be wined and dined at the Inaugural Luncheon in the historic National Statuary Hall at the US Capitol.

Duct tape covers a large crack in the premier booth at Hard Time Josephine’s Cooking, where waitresses still call you “sweetie” and customers come for the steaming shrimp bisque and homemade peach cobbler with just a hint of cinnamon.

Toro Loco is one of my favorite restaurants…that’s because it’s authentic food, not a chain food joint.

Hurricane Sandy has brought out a side in me that I thought I’d never see…a crazed person who would do damn near anything for a hot shower and some heat. So while waiting for the power to come back on I decided try a new joint to eat and drink and drink and drink.

Two days after Hurricane Sandy struck I was finally able to get out and see the devastation in my New Jersey neighborhood. What a mess. After driving through several towns I ended up in Montclair, New Jersey, because they had power. Looking for a place to get a hot cup of soup, I went to Costanera Cocina Peruana located on the main drag…Bloomfield Ave.

Last week I attended one of the biggest wine tasting events in New Jersey, The Wine Library Super Wine Tasting held at The Manor. This has got to be one of the biggest wine tasting events in the country. I have written about the Wine Library in an earlier post, one of my favorite places to shop, hands down. Well, they know how to throw a wine tasting party! There were over 400 different wines, beers, champagnes and liquors available for attendees to try during my four and a half hours of uninterrupted tasting. Yes a number of guests came in limos to insure that they returned home safely. I had my trusted designated driver which allowed me to fully enjoy all of the spirits I could sample.

There is nothing like a frosty glass of beer to go along with a great bowl of chili and a spicy debate. I already posted the Obama family’s chili recipe. Here is President Obama’s Official White House Beer recipe to complete your debate menu. Enjoy!

Who doesn’t like chili, let alone the first family…ok so if you’re a republican you might not. Since the debates are this week I thought it would be really cool to serve the Obama Family Chili recipe while watching President Obama debate his challenger into the ground. Here’s to you Mr. President!!!

Anyone who knows me knows that I love Indian food. I love spicy, curried foods from India. I was introduce to Indian foods over 15 years ago and I have been a fan ever since. My very dear friend Russell shares this passion for Indian food as well, so it is a treat to catch up with him and go to his favorite spot in New York for a culinary feast.

As I walked up Ninth Ave in New York I noticed this really cool building that had an interesting facade…lots of metal. It was The New York Times building. Then I noticed this really cool looking food spot, Schnippers Quality Kitchen located in the cool looking building. Home cooked comfort food on Ninth Ave near Port Authority no less. I decided to check it out.

During the summer of 2012, I set off on a quest to find the best cheeseburger in my area. I was on a mission to re-capture the chesseburger taste of my childhood. You know, when beef was real and not loaded with hormones and fillers. I visited a number of burger joints in New Jersey and New York.

On a recent episode of Man v Food on the Travel Channel, my favorite network, the host Adam Richman ate at a deli in New Jersey called Harold’s. He ate a humongous sandwich and a huge piece of cake. So of course you know I had to go and check this place out for myself.

I just happened to be in Hoboken, NJ trying to retrieve a lost item that I left on New Jersey Transit and as I was leaving I turned the corner and noticed that there was no line to get into Carlo’s Bake Shop. The last time I visited Carlo’s, owned by The Cake Boss, the line was a couple of very long blocks long and it took me an hour and a half just to get to the door.

Here is my recipe for my Smoked Pork Butt with Baked Sweet Potatoes and Garlic Roasted String Beans.

Here is my recipe for my Udon Noodle Soup.